Constitution Revision: February 2011 Name: Founded: April 1984 I. Purpose NRHH The National Residence Hall Honorary Nittany Chapter, Penn State University The purpose of this organization is to recognize and honor the dedication of those students exhibiting superior service and leadership throughout the Penn State University residence hall community and to enhance the quality and development of both potential and existing student leaders. II. Membership Section I: Qualifications A. Active members must be currently living in the residence halls. B. Active members must have at least a third semester standing. C. Active members must demonstrate outstanding leadership and service within the residence halls. D. Active members must have lived in the residence halls for one year prior to membership. E. Active members must have and maintain a 2.60 cumulative grade/point average on a four point scale. F. Active members should be a student of good character and in good standing with Penn State University. G. Only currently employed faculty, staff, and currently registered students should be eligible for membership. H. At no point shall the active membership of this group fall below 20 members. Section 2: Types of Membership A. The organization shall consist of three types of members: 1. Active member a. An active member shall be defined as one who is enrolled at Penn State University and lives in the residence halls. b. Active members shall have voting privileges and shall constitute the entire voting body. 2. Alumni or early alumni member a. Former active members who have left the residence hall system and remain registered students shall hold early alumni membership. b. Former active members who have left the University shall hold alumni membership. 3. Honorary member a. Those chosen by the active voting body in recognition of outstanding service and leadership in the residence hall system, above and beyond their official capacities or regular duties, shall hold honorary membership. b. Honorary members may also be considered for alumni membership. B. The entire honorary shall not consist of more than one percent (1%) of the residence hall population. C. Due to the honorary nature of this organization and the National Chapter requirements for membership, there is no provision for associate membership. D. New membership (as amended by the USG Supreme Court, Dec. 1, 2000) Any and all new members will be given full disclosure during recruitment, including but not limited to the disclosure of: 1. New Membership manual 2. Schedule of New Member Events and Activities 3. A list of responsibilities 4. A definition of personal rights, and a copy of the University Hazing policy, prescribed in the Policies and Rules for Student Organizations.
All of these documents will be available upon request by the Center for Student Engagement E. All members, including but not limited to new members and recruits, reserve the right to refrain from participating in any activities without consequence, based upon personal/religious beliefs, personal values or moral reserve as defined by the member. 1. Any and all interaction/activity between members and/or new members will be limited to guidelines stated by university policy, as well as local, state, and federal laws. F. Members shall not be hazed by this or any affiliates of this organization at any time or for any reason during recruitment or membership. III. Selection of Members Section 1: Nomination Procedures A. Nominations must be made on the nomination forms provided and approved by this chapter and submitted to the selection committee. B. Any Penn State residence hall student, or any member of the Penn State faculty, staff, or administration may make nominations. Section 2: Selection Guidelines A. The selection committee shall be determined on an annual basis by the President, Vice-President, and Historian. B. The selection process hall be determined annually by the Selection Committee after it has been formed by the aforementioned individuals. C. Selection standards: 1. All inductees must meet criteria requirements for membership as outlined in Article II, Section I. 2. At no time shall the number of inductees raise the total active membership to greater than 1% of the residence hall population. 3. The nominator will submit an application during the set nomination period for the nominee. 4. The selection committee will choose inductees by a simple majority of committee members present. 5. In the event of a tie in selection committee voting, the President of NRHH will cast the deciding vote. 6. All applicants successfully inducted into active membership will submit a membership induction fee to be used toward the cost of membership pin, membership certificate, and NRHH-sponsored events. a. The membership induction fee may be waived at any time due to financial difficulties of the applicant and/or the financial status of NRHH. 1. The president reserves the right to waive the fee on a case-by-case basis. IV. Executive Structure Section 1: Selection of Officers A. Only full-time, officially registered students shall be eligible to serve as an appointed or elected officer of NRHH. B. Only active members may serve as officers of NRHH. C. Term of Office: 1. Officers elected in the regular spring elections shall serve for one year. 2. Officers elected to fill a vacant position shall serve until the regularly scheduled spring selection. 3. Limitations shall be subject to approval by the Center for Student Engagement
Section 2: Officers and Duties President: A. The President shall: 1. Conduct and preside over the meetings of NRHH. Meetings shall be called at his/her discretion. 2. Act as official spokesperson of the organization. 3. Appoint standing committees. 4. Vote in case of a tie. 5. Attend, or appoint a representative to attend, meetings of the Association of Residence Hall Students (ARHS) when necessary. Vice President: B. The Vice President shall: 1. Sit as a chairperson of the Selection Committee. 2. Advise standing committees. 3. Preside over all meetings in the absence of the President. Treasurer: C. The Treasurer shall: 1. Be responsible for all financial transactions for the organizations. 2. Formulate a budget at the beginning of the year in conjunction with the President and revise it as necessary. 3. Oversee, but not necessarily run, all fundraising activities. 4. Renew the Nittany Chapter s membership as a registered organization with the PSU Student Organizations office and the National Chapter of NRHH. 5. Maintain an account with, and conduct all financial transactions from, Associated Student Activities (ASA) in the HUB. Secretary: D. The Secretary shall: 1. Take minutes at all called meetings and distribute them to the members. 2. Send notices about meetings to members. 3. Maintain files on all activities. 4. Submit an end-of-the-year report to the National Honorary office and file one in the Nittany Chapter files. 5. Sit as a member of the Selection Committee. 6. Maintain and update the NRHH Listserv whenever necessary. Historian: E. The Historian shall: 1. Record all active, alumni, and honorary membership in NRHH. 2. Distribute newsletters as needed to all members. 3. Maintain a yearly scrapbook. 4. Sit as a member of the Selection Committee. Section 3: Election of Officers A. Nominations and elections shall take place during the last meeting of the Spring Semester. B. Election codes: 1. Quorum to conduct nominations and elections shall be 25% of active membership. 2. The majority needed to elect shall be 50%+1 3. The majority is derived from the active membership present at the meeting to elect. 4. Any member may nominate an active member for any office by raising their hand and being recognized by the meeting Chair. 5. Active members shall cast secret, written ballots for the candidate of their choice. 6. Each active member shall cast one vote per office. 7. If a 50%+1 majority cannot be obtained, the candidate with the lowest number of votes shall be dropped from consideration and the members shall vote again.
Section 4: Filling Vacancies A. In the case of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall assume the office of President and nominations and elections will be held to fill the now vacant office of Vice President. B. In the case of a vacancy in any office other than president, the President may appoint an acting officer to fill the vacancy until elections can be held to fill the office. C. Nominations to fill vacant offices will be held at the first meeting following the vacancy. Voting will take place immediately following nominations. D. A quorum of 25% of active members must be present to elect an officer. E. A simple majority (50%+1) of those active members present at the election meeting will suffice to elect the new officer. Section 5: Impeachment A. Grounds of impeachment of any officer or member of the NRHH Executive Board shall be embezzlement, malfeasance in office, or actions contrary to, or in violation of the constitution of NRHH. B. Impeachment charges shall be presented to NRHH at least one week prior to the initiation of impeachment proceedings in council. C. A vote of two-thirds by the general business voting membership shall be required to begin impeachments proceedings in council. D. A special session of Council will be called with the highest ranking member of Council presiding. E. A three-quarters quorum of the general business voting membership will be required for the meeting. F. An officer or member may, after the initiation of impeachment proceedings against him/her, be removed from office by a three-quarters majority vote of the general business voting membership. G. Anyone under impeachment shall be permitted to see in writing the charges presented against him or her, and shall be able to question witnesses, shall be presented with all the evidence, and shall be given the chance to defend himself/herself. H. All voting in cases of impeachment or removal from office shall be made by secret ballot vote. The accused shall not be excluded from listening to any of the discussion of the debate or the vote result although he/she shall be excluded from taking part in the vote. V. Chapter Reports A. At the beginning of the academic year, the local chapter shall submit to the National office a revised list of active members, chapter officers, and advisors for the academic year. B. At the end of the academic year, the local chapter shall submit to the National office: 1. End-of-the-year chapter report. 2. A list of new officers, members and initiates 3. Any other pertinent or special information as requested by the National office. VI. Chapter Dues A. The Nittany Chapter of NRHH will pay its annual chapter dues, as prescribed by the National office, to the National office of the Honorary in order to retain the chapter s membership. VII. Meetings A. There must be at least two meetings per semester. B. 1 week advance notice about future meetings must be given to the membership. C. A 25% quorum of active members must be present to conduct general business.
VIII. Voting A. Only active members shall vote. B. 25% quorum of active members is needed for matters requiring a vote as well as to conduct general business. C. When a majority is required, it is derived as a majority of quorum, and is defined as 50%+1 of active members in attendance. IX. Finances A. All funds are to be deposited and handled through the Associated Student Activities (ASA) office in the HUB. B. Payment of dues may be used as a condition of membership if so decided. C. Copies of the NRHH financial records must be made available to anyone upon request. D. Control of finances 1. The power to pay bills, make transactions and any other financial business involving the dispersal of NRHH funds shall be reserved solely for the NRHH Treasurer and President, with each requiring the other s consent. X. Advisors A. An advisor must be a full-time employee of the Penn State University, and be a member of the faculty, staff, or administration. B. The Advisor shall be appointed by the Director of Residence Life. C. The Assistant Advisor shall be selected by the NRHH executive board through an application process and serve a two-year term. XI. Amendments and Bylaws Section 1: Amendments A. Introduction and passage of an amendment will take place at the first meeting after it has been formulated. B. Quorum for introduction and passage of amendments will be 25% of active members. A simple majority vote (50%+1) of those active members present will suffice to pass the amendment. C. Any active member at any meeting may introduce an amendment. D. All amendments are subject to the approval of the Center for Student Engagement. E. All nominees must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.60 on a four-point scale. Section: 2 Bylaws A. Bylaws may be adopted by a simple majority vote provided quorum of 25% of active members is achieved. XII. Parliamentary Authority A. All questions of parliamentary procedure shall be decided according to Robert s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.